Feed-water purifier.



J. PATTEN. FEED WATER PURIFIER. APPLICATION FILED AUG.19,1008.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

nuns HIMSIK" [mam-m Ac JOHN PATTEN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

FEED-WATER emin nce.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Application filed August 19, 1908. Serial No.-fl9,301.'

Toallphom it may concern: Be It known that I, JO1-IN\PATTEN, a resident of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Feed-\Vater Purifiers; and

I o hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the in .vention, such as will enable others skilled inthe-"art to which it appertains to make and; use the same.

- My invention relates to improvements in feed water purifiers for steam boilers, and

morepartic'ularly to thattype in which live steam 'from the boiler is employed in the urifier for effecting the separation ofsuch impurities from-the water as would result in the formation of scale.

One object of my present invention is to so construct a feed water purifier that it can be readil cleaned and the artificial stone formed 'tierein easily removed.

A- further object is to construct a feed water purifier in such manner thatthe choking of the mouth of the feed pipe where it communicates with the cylinder of the purifier and where said pipe communicates with-the-boiler, by the accumulation of materials which would form scale, will be obviated.

With these objects in view the invention consists ,in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the, accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of a feed water purifier embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross section of the same, and Fig. 3. is a partial sectional view showing-;.the means (in elevation) for withdrawing 'the chain from the purifier cylinder.

1 represents a cylinder or tank provided nei u' itsdower end with brackets 2 by means of which the device is supported upon posts or edestals 3. he cylinder 1 is provided witi a conical or hopper-bottmn l normally closed at its lower end by means of a cap 5 removably secured in place. A discharge pipe 6 comn'ninicatcs, through the on p 5 with the bottom of the cylinder, and this pipe is provided with a normally closed blow-oil valve 7 v A cover 8 normally closes the top of the cylinder 1 and is removably held in place by suitable bolts 9--l0. A. crane 11 is rev- 0 u bly mounlcd in a socket in one 01' the brackets '2 and guided by perforated lug or projection l2'at the top of the cylinder.

The upper member of this crane projects partially over the cover'8 and is connected Means are with the center of the latter. thus provided for swinging the cover from the top of the cylinder and sup orting the same when the interior of t-hecy inder is to be cleaned.

The cylinder 1 is divided by a vertical partition 18 into two chambers 14 and 15. The upper end. of the partition 13 terminates an appreciable distance below the up per end ot the cylinder and the lower end of said partition terminates at a point approximately coincident with the juncture of the body of the cylinder with the ho perbotto'm thereof. The lower end of thee 1amber 14 is tightly closed at a point some dislance above the lower-end of the partition '18, by means of a horizontal partition 16.

The chamber 15 is provided with a perforated bottom or partition 17 preferably located in a plane somewhat above the bottom 16 of the chamber 14. The bottom or partition 17 may comprise two members, the V upper member 18 being perforated and placed upon the lower member so as to cover an opening 19 of considerable size. The said upper member 18 of the partition 17 may be removable so that access entirely through the cylinder may be afiorded to facilitates thorough cleansing of the interior of the apparatus.

A chain 20 is located within the cylinder 1. and made to occupy both chambers 14-15 thcrcof,-said chain resting upon, the bottoms 16-1T of said chambers and being made also to occupy more or less ofthe space above the vertical portition 13.

A water inlet pipe 21 communicates with the chamber 14, near the lower end thereof, and a water outlet pipe 22 communicates with the cylinder 1, below the bottom 16 of chamber Li, and above the lower end of the vertical partition 13. A steam pipe 23 from the dome of the boiler which my improved purifier is to supply with water, communicates with the cylinder 1 at a point below the bottom 17 of chamber 15 and above the plane of the water outlet pipe 22 and the lower end of the vertical partition 13. pipe 24 communicates with the 11 per end of the cylinder 1-for the escape o steam and gases liberated from the water and commingling' with such steam.

B around themouth of the pipe. This sedi-- Water from a suitable feed pump enters, I

' to the height of the partition 13, the water v to boileg temperature.

acid, stearic acid,Ietc.

the purified water will trickle or percolate through the chain, 20 and at the same time be heated by hve steam entering through the pipe 23. This live steam passesupwardly through the perforated bottom 17 of chamber 15 and through the chain '20, coming into direct contact with the water and heating the same tions the free carbonic acid is volatilized and the soluble bicarbonates of such minerals' as lime, magnesia, iron, etc are decomposed and converted into insolnble monocarbonates which adhere to the surface of the chain links and to scale which may have previously been'formed on the latter, while will finally reach that portion of the cylinder below the partitions 16 and 17. The organic matter in the water is also decomposed and breaks up into volatile compounds which pass ofi' with the steam through the pipe 24. The character of the gases generated will of course depend upon the nature of the organic matter in the water. Thus albuminous substances mostly break up into carbonic acid and ammonia, while fatty matter, such as the glycerids of the fatty acids, break up mostly into organic acidsysuch tannic acid, acetic acid, oleic Calcium sulfate that may be in the water is rendered insoluble by exposure to the heat of the live steam and accumulates in the form of artificial weak stone on the chain. The water which percolates through the chain may not be .entirely deprived of the minerals thrown out of solution by the heat and elimination of the gas, and therefore the bottom of the cylinder is utilized as a settling tank. The water which passes through the perforated bottom 17 of the'chamber 15 becomes deposited in this settling tank and, there being no vaporization, the sediment settles and separates from the Water. The water, after descending to the lower end of the partition 13, then ascends on the other side of this partitionand passes off through the pipe 22. to the boiler. After the sediment has accumulated to some extent in the bottom of the tank, the valve 7 is opened and such sediment is blown out.

One of the difficulties in steam boilers and live steam purifiers is the choking of the mouth of the feed pipe where it enters the boiler or purifier. The sudden elimination of the gases and the heating of the water forms an undue amount of sediment in and ment is of the nature of boiler scale and so i chokes the end of the pipe as to render frequent cleaning necessary. This difliculty is avoided in'iny purifier by the provision of .of the feed pipe 21 Under these condia pinion 28 and the --of said chain and the chamber 14 having a watertight bottom 16. The 'water ascends through-this compartment and is heated from the top,-the heat descending slowly, so that the mouth and the immediate vicinity thereof is left comparatively cool, and therefore little scale will. accumulate to-in-' terfere with the water. After the water has passed over the-top of the partition 13 however, it comes into direct contact with the ,live steam from the boiler and is heated quickly and cised to deposit its scale on the links of the chain. After one section of the links in chamber 15 has become filled with artificial stone or be deflected to neighboring links-and will continue to change its course until the spaces between the links of the chain shall be sufficiently filled with scale to prevent the free tlow of water. It will then benecessary to clean the purifier. This. isaccomplished by removing the head 2? of cylinder 1 and then withdrawing the chain. 20, at the same time breaking the artificial stone .or scale into niall fragments.

The chain 20 can be conveniently withdrawn from the cylinder by means of a Windlass 25,-the. chain passing from the cylinder over a pulley 26 and then :downwardly so as to be engaged or to wind on the .YlHtiltlSS. said chain being finally deposited upon the ground. The Windlass may be provided with a gear wheel 27 to be engaged by latter may be operated by means of a crank 29. stone or scale which may still adhere to the chain after it has been removed from the cylinder may be dislodged from the chain in any suitablemanner and in some instances it mav be found desirable to place the chain in a furnagefor disintegrating the scale.

Various'slight changes might be made in the details of construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting the scope and hence I do' not wish to restrict myself tothe precise details herein set forth. I Having fully described my invention what i Let- I claim as new and desire to secure by 'ters-Pa tent, is 2- 1. In a feed water purifier of thecharacter described, the combination with a pi'ovidediwith ajvater inlet and a water outlet, of. a removable' ehain located within the f tank between---thefwateiiginlet and, the water outlet, a live steam ipe communicating with said cylinder there y exposing the surface scale deposited thereon to hve steam,'and an escape pipe from said tank to discharge the. gases generated there in mixed with steam as described.

.2. In a feed water'purifier, the combina-v tion with a tank provided with an inlet and an outlet for water and also provided with an inlet and an scale, the water will Any artificial 100 outlet for steam, of a flexible device adapted to receive scale deposit, removably disposed within said tank between the steam in etand outlet. 1

3. In a feed water purifier, the combination with a tank, of a partition dividing said tank into two chambers, one ofsaid chambers, a perforated bottom for the other chamber, a water inlet .pipe communicating with the chamber having the tightbottom,'a water outlet pipe communicating with the tank below the chamber having the tight'bottom, a live steam pipe communicating with the tank, and a gas'and steam escape pipe communicating with the 15.

tank..

4. 'Iira'feed water purifier, the combinat on with a tank, of a part tion dividing said tank into two chambers, a tight bottom for one'of said chambers a dlrforated bot- 7 tom' for theother chamber, a water inlet )lpe- (.OllllfllllLl -ating with the chamber having the tight bottom, a water outlet pipe communicating with the tank below the chamber having the tight bottom, a livesteam pipe communicating with the tank in proximity to the chamber having the perforated bottom, a gas and steam escape pipe communicating with the tank and flexible scale collecting means located within the tank above the plane of the live steam inlet. 5 In a feed water purifier, the combination with a tank and a horizontal perforated partition therein, ofa flexible scale collecting device removably disposed over said partition, means for discharging water downwardly through said flexible device, means for siniultai'ieonsly passing steam through said flexibledevice. an escape pipe comniuiiicating with the taii'k, and.a water disfcliargc pipe also con'iniunicating with said tank.

(1. Iii-a feed water purifier, the combination with a tank and a horizontal perforated partition therein, of a scale collecting device consisting of a series of connected links, rcmovably disposed over said perforated partition, means for passing water downwardly through said connected series of links, meansfor simultaneously passing live steam through said connected series of links, an escape pipe communicating with the tank, and a water outlet pipe communicating with the tank below the plane of said connected series of links.

T. In a feed water purifier, the combination with a tank, of a vertical partition therein terminating atits respective ends -ap )re-ciable distances from the respective (Ht s of the tank, a tight bottom for one of a tight; bottom for' able distance above tion with a tank,

the chambers formed by said partition and located at an appreciable distance above the lower end of said partition, :1 erforated bottom for the other chamber ormed by said partition and also located at ap recitlie lower end 0 said partition, a flexible scale collecting device reinovably supported in said chambers over the bottoms thereof. a water inlet pipe coinmunicating with the lower portion of the chamber-having tlietight'bottom, a water outlet pipe communicating with the tank below said tight bottom and above the lower end of the vertical partition, a-live steam inlet pipe communicating "with the tank in proximity to the other chamber, and an escape pipe communicating with the tank.

' S. In a feed water urifier, the combination with atank provi ed in its bottom with a settling chamber, and a, blow off valve communicating with said settling chamber, of a flexible scale collectingdevice in the upper portion of the tank, means for passing water downwardly through said scale col-' lectiug device, means for simultaneously passing live steam upwardly through said scale collecting device, an escape pipe coininunicating with the tank, and a water outlet pipe' communicating with the tank in a plane below the scale collecting device.

9. Ina feed water purifier, the combinaand a perforated partition disposed horizontally within said tank, of a scale collecting chain located upon said partitioin'and a wiiidlass for removing said chain from the cylinder.

10. In a feedwatcr purifier, the combination with atank and a horizontal perforated partition therein, of a removable cover for said cylinder, a crane for sup orting said cover when removed, a scale coli ecting chain removably disposed in said tank over the perforated partition; means for passing water downwardly through said chain, means for passing live steam through said chain, an escape pipe communicating with the tank, a water outlet pipe communicating with the tank below the plane of the scale collecting chain, and means for removing the scale collectin chain from the cylinder.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARY M. MAGRAW, LEWIS N. HoP uNs, Jr.

a removable cover thereof 

